Power failure paralyses N/Assembly

Idowu Samuel and Bola Badmus, Abuja - 17.09.2009

A blackout, lasting full working hours, hit the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, on Wednesday, paralysing nearly all activities. The prolonged blackout was the first of its kind since the National Assembly became fully operational 10 years ago.

All the banks, which have branches within the Complex, could not conduct business, a situation which forced their customers to seek alternative banking transactions outside the National Assembly.

All the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) installed within the main complex, most especially at the basement of the White House, were out of use. The blackout occurred in the early part of the morning and shortly after the Speaker, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, left his office for the International Airport for his scheduled trip to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.

The Senate President, Senator David Mark, was also not around for work since the two legislative Houses are currently on end of the year recess. The power generating set that serves as an alternative source of energy to the complex could not work either because the panels that offer current were said to be bad.

The blackout also affected electronically operated doors and equipment, thus forcing many offices to throw open their doors and windows for manageable illumination and ventilation.